Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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SALLISAW, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation’s Redbird Smith Health Center and Sequoyah Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring the second annual Sequoyah County Men’s Health Fair on Friday, October 27, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at both of these locations. The purpose of the Health Fair is to provide local men the opportunity to receive routine health screening in a number of different areas. Recent studies show hesitancy on the part of most men to have routine health screenings in spite of the fact these screenings can dramatically reduce illness and death. Approximately seven out of ten Americans who have not visited the doctor in the last five years are men. Currently, 45 percent of all American males are medically defined as overweight, with 17 percent of those being considered obese. This high number elevates the likelihood of health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Each year over 130,000 men die of circulatory diseases, and over 124, 000 American men are diagnosed each year with cancer. Of the men who will be diagnosed with cancer this year, most will have prostate cancer. While rare in men under age 40, prostate cancer becomes more common as men grow older. However, if diagnosed early enough, it is curable at rates up to 98-99 percent. For more information on the health fair, contact the Redbird Smith Health Center, phone: 918-775-9159.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org